Means for installing lamp shade covers



" M. G. ROSENTHAL mus FOR msmuuc LAMP saws COVERS Oct. 29, 1963 s Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1957 Oct. 29, 1963 A G. ROSENTHAL 3,103,415

MEANS FOR INSTALLING LAMP SHADE COVERS Filed May 20, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2y 1mm,

jfz I LI I Oct. 29, 1963 M. G. ROSENTHAL mums FOR INSTALLING LAMP SHADE COVERS Filed May 20, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,108,415 MEANS FOR INSTALLING LAMP SHADE COVERS Manuel G. Rosenthal, New York, N.Y. (89-06 183rd St., Hollis 23, N.Y.) Filed May 20, 1957, Ser. No. 660,218 2 Claims. (Cl. 53-381) This invention relates generally to lamp shade protective cover, and more particularly to novel forms of covers, cover installing means and improved methods for installing such covers. It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a lamp shade cover having contractile edges and which is adapted to cover the inner and outer surface of a lamp shade.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a machine, by the use of which lamp shade covers having one or more contractile edges may be quickly and properly installed upon lamp shade. Y

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that skill of only relatively low degree is required to operate the machine.

A further object herein lies in the provision of a lamp shade cover installing machine which may be readily adjusted or altered to accommodate lamp shades of varying dimensions and shapes.

An advantage of the present construction lies in the fact that the same is simple, light in weight, and hence easily transported and is low with respect to cost of fabrication.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more fully apparent in the progress of the disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a lamp shade protective cover applying machine which is an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view corresponding generally to the left central portion of FIG- URE l, but showing the machine in expanded relative position thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 3-3 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View as seen from the plane 4--4 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal elevational view as seen from the plane '5-5 on FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding generally to the lower left hand portion of FIGURE 6, but showing the machine in an expanded position thereof.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional View as seen from the plane 8--8 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 9--9 on FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view showing the spreading element which comprises a part of the machine in an inverted position.

FIGURE 11 is an elevational view comparable to FIGURE 10, but showing a modified form of spreading element.

FIGURE 12 is a reduced fragmentary vertical sectional view of the spreading element as seen from the plane 112- 12 on FIGURE 6, with a protective shade cover thereon shown in dash double dot lines, and the shade cover shown in its fully erected condition in full lines.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding generally to that seen on FIGURE 12, but with the spreading element in expanded condition, and with a lamp shade indicated in dot dash lines.

FIGURE 14 is a vertical sectional view with the lamp shade and cover thereon after removal from the spreading element, showing a stage following that seen on FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the spreader element inverted and an irregularly shaped shade with top collar and rushing, and

an auxiliary cover plate.

FIGURE 16 is a view in perspective of the shade and cover of FIGURE 15 after removal from contact with the spreading element. 1

FIGURE 17 is a vertical sectional view showing one stage of the application of an inside-outside cover.

FIGURE 18 is a vertical sectional view comparable to FIGURE 17 and showing a subsequent stage.

Turning to FIGURES l and 6 of the drawings, in accordance with the invention, the machine, generally indicated by reference character 20, comprises broadly a base 22, a spreading element 24, a stationary support element 26, a movable support element 28, and means 30 for moving support element 28.

The base '22 is preferably in the form of a flat metal plate having a support edge 23, a free, edge 32, end edges 34 and 36 and an angularly disposed edge 38.- The base 22 is adapted to be secured to a working surface 40 of any suitable height and area by means such as the screws 41.

The support elements 2.6 and 28 are substantially identical, including mounting blocks 42 and 43, having grooves 44 and 45, respectively, top members 46 and 47, respectively, which are held in position by screws 48, and internal detents 49 which are preferably in the form of spring-pressed balls adapted to engage in depressions in the under surface of the tongues 50 and 52 on the spreading element 24. The tongues 50 and 52 are detachably engageable in the support elements 26 and 28 and are gauged to proper position when the shoulders 54 and 56 contact the juxtaposed faces of the support element (see FIG. 5 The support element 26 is secured to the base 22, while the support element 28 is connected to a rod 57 which slides in the support element 26.

The spreading element 24 is formed by bending a bar having a flange to a substantially circular shape, the flange forming a lip 25 extending radially outward of the incomplete ring 27. While most lamp shades are generally round in configuration,- it will be apparent that other peripheral configurations may be accommodated, in which case the element 24 being correspondingly shaped. Owing to the fact that the effective diameter of the spreader element 24 is variable, it maybe used with covers and shades through a small range of size differential, such as one inch or the like. The spreading element 24 is held upon the means 30 in a detachable manner, and it is there- Patented Qct. 2 9;1963

fore a simple matter to have a series of similar elements varying only in basic diameter, any one of which may be substituted by inserting the tongues 52 and 54 thereof into the grooves 44 and 45, respectively. The spreading element 24 is preferably in a state of resilient equilibrium when it is in its middle diameter, as shown on FIGURES 1 and 6.

The means 30 which serves to move the spreading element 24 comprises a trunnion member 60 link members 62 and 64, lever members 66 and 68 and a handle member 70. The trunnion member 60 is secured to the base 22-, as best seen on FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, and the spreading element 24 is operated by movement of the handle element about the pintel 72 in a counter-clockwise direction as seen on FIGURES l and 2. The force applied to the handle 70 is transmitted through pintels 74 and 76 to the link members 62. and 64 to result in movement of the rod 67 causing the spreading element 24 to expand in effective diameter. When the pintel 74 has passed a dead center position between the pintels 72 and 76, the lever member 70 contacts the link member 62 and is resiliently maintained in such position. During this time, the spreading element 24 is maintained in expanded position without further attention on part of the operator, and upon the composition of an individual operation in which a cover is installed upon a lamp shade, the handle member 70 is returned to its initial position, resulting in the reduction of the overall diameter of the spreading element 24 to permit release of the cover, as will more fully appear hereinafter.

During all positions of adjustment of the spreading element 24, the same is prevented from contacting the edge of a table or support upon which the base 2 2 is mounted by the presence of a positioning member 75 secured by means of rivets to the underside of the base 22.

Referring to FIGURES 9, l and 11 on the drawings, in FIGURE 9 and lip 25 is disposed at the uppermost portion of the spreading element 24. This position may be altered as shown on FIGURE 10 by the disengagement of the tongues 50 and 52 and the turning over of the element 24 through 180 before reinsertion. In the modified form of spreading element indicated by reference chacacter 24a on FIGURE 11, the necessity of this operation is eliminated by the provision of a pair of lips 29 and 31, either of which may be employed selectively.

Referring to FIGURE 12. of the drawing, there is shown a lamp shade cover 76 of the type contemplated for use in conjunction with the machine 20. The cover 76 is preferably formed of a suitable synthetic resinous planar material, such as polyethylene and the configuration thereof conforms generally to the shape of the lamp shade to be protected thereby. The cover 76 includes an upper hemmed edge 78 which may contain a resilient means (not shown) within the hem portion thereof, and a similar lower hem edge 80, also provided with corresponding resilient means. Disposed between the upper and lower hem edges is the main body portion of the shade cover bounded by an outer surface 82 and an inner surface 84. In the first step of installation of the cover 76 upon a lamp shade indicated on FIGURE 13 by reference character 86, the cover is slipped over the spreading element 24 in such a manner that the lower hemmed edge 80 which is the larger of the hemmed edges is engaged beneath the lip 25. The remaining portion of the cover, being relatively limp will generally dispose itself in the area above the spreading element as indicated by the dash double dot lines on FIGURE 12. In the next step of installation, as shown on FIGURE 13, the lamp shade is brought upwardly into the opening formed by the spreading element until the same is fully seated within the cover. This movement will automatically straighten and erect the cover, so that when the spreading element is released, the lower edge 80 and upper edge 78 will grip the corresponding edges of the shade, as best seen on FIGURE 14 of the drawing.

Referring to FIGURE 15, there is shown a lamp shade,

generally indicated by reference character 88, of more intricated design, including a cylindrical top collar 90, a

conical portion 92, rushing 94 and an auxiliary plate 96.-

In the case of relatively delicate construction, it may be preferable for the lamp shade to be dropped into the cover with a minimum of force on the part of the operator, thereby eliminating the possibility of damage. In such cases, the spreading element 24 may be reversed as shown on FIGURE 10 or a spreading element 24a of the type shown on FIGURE 11 may be employed, in which the cover is allowed to depend therefrom. The shade is inserted from above, and allowed to fall upon the cover. This manner of insertion also permits the placing of an auxiliary cover across the exposed bottom opening, as indicated on FIGURE 16 of the drawing, to further protect the shade.

Referring to FIGURES 17 and 18, there is shown a method of installing a cover adapted to protect both the inner and outer surfaces of the shade. Here, the shade, generally indicated by reference character 100, includes an inner surface 102, and an outer surface 104. The icover generally indicated by reference character 106 includes an upper hemmed edge 108 and a lower hemmed edge 110, and the main body portion 112 is of a length substantially twice that of the height of the shade 100. The upper hemmed edge 108 of the cover is provided with a plurality of hook members 114 preferably formed of wire which are adapted to engage the upper periphery 115 of the shade during a first stage of installation as shown on FIGURE 17. Following this engagement, the shade is allowed to gently drop through the opening in the spreading element 24, as indicated in the dash lines of FIGURE 17, to form a fold edge in the cover 106.

Referring to FIGURE 18, the lower hemmed edge is then positioned above the upper hemmed edge 108, and following the release of the spreading element 24, the shade is completely enclosed as the resilient means disposed within the hemmed edge, (not shown) contracts.

It may thus be seen that there has been invented novel and highly useful improvements in means for installing lamp shade covers. A resort to the novel structure, a jig type mechanism is provided for holding the shade cover in distended condition for the easy insertion of a lamp shade therein without damage to either the shade or cover. This permits the installation to be performed using only the two hands of an individual worker, and enables him to maintain a very high rate of productivity. The device is adaptable for use with practically any type of stretchable covering, and may be constructed for durable and trouble free service at a relatively low cost. The device may be adapted for varying sizes of lamp shades by merely replacing the existing spreading element with one of another size, and small size differentials may be accommodated by a single spreading element. With minor modification, the device may be adapted to enclose a wide variety of articles within elastic covers, it being necessary only to alter the size and configuration of the expansive ring element in each case.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A device for installing lamp shade covers upon lamp shades comprising: a base, a stationary support element mounted upon said base, a spreading element partially supported by said support element, a moveable support element, said spreading element being partially supported by said moveable support element, and means for moving said moveable support element with respect to said first mentioned support element to expand said spreading element, said spreading element being of unitary arcuate configuration, and having a radially outwardly extending flange thereon.

2. A device for installing lamp shade covers upon lamp having a radially outwardly extending flange on at least shades comprising: a base, a stationary support element one edge thereof. mounted upon said base, a spreading element partially supth 1 of this atent ported by said stationary support element, a moveable References cued m fl 6 p support element, said spreading element being partially 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS supported by said moveable support element and means 1,674,635 Burden June 26, 1928 for moving said moveable support element to expand said 2,012,200 Oberosler Aug. 20, 1935 spreading element; said spreading element including a 2,051,035 Field Aug. 18,1936 quasi-circular ring, the opened ends of which are engaged 2,348,144 O ie May 2, 1944 by said fixed and moveable support elements; said ring 10 2,355,073 Hothersall Aug. 8, 1944 2,555,194 Kojan et al May 29, 1951 

2. A DEVICE FOR INSTALLING LAMP SHADE COVERS UPON LAMP SHADES COMPRISING: A BASE, A STATIONARY SUPPORT ELEMENT MOUNTED UPON SAID BASE, A SPREADING ELEMENT PARTIALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID STATIONARY SUPPORT ELEMENT A MOVEABLE SUPPORT ELEMENT, SAID SPREADING ELEMENT BEING PARTIALLY SUPPORTED BY SAID MOVEABLE SUPPORT ELEMENT AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOVEABLE SUPPORT ELEMENT TO EXPAND SAID SPREADING ELEMENT; SAID SPREADING ELEMENT INCLUDING A QUASI-CIRCULAR RING, THE OPENED ENDS OF WHICH ARE ENGAGED BY SAID FIXED AND MOVEABLE SUPPORT ELEMENTS; SAID RING HAVING A RADIALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE ON AT LEAST ONE EDGE THEREOF. 